Confirmed: the Subaru Outback is No More

You really, really, really wanted a Subaru Outback? You do? Huh? Well, that’s too bad. You shouldn’t have waited so long because Motor Image Pilipinas just confirmed: they’ve got no stock left. Zero. Zilch.

The last Subaru to be powered by a creamy 3.6-liter flat-6, the Outback sort of had a segment to itself—especially if you ever thought that an executive wagon/SUV was a thing. Sure, it had fuel economy that’ll give you nightmares, but my goodness, the engine was just buttery smooth. Plus, because it had real ground clearance and 500 mm of water wading, it can go where Accords and Camrys feared to tread. Pour one out as this old fashioned Subie heads off to the great wilderness park in the sky.

Fear not though, this isn’t the end of the Outback name. Motor Image Pilipinas has confirmed that they are indeed bringing in the all-new Outback. Though they didn’t mention any specifics, the all-new model pretty much sticks to the same proven recipe, only it sports a brand-new platform and, at least in other countries, a turbocharged motor. Sadly, it’s going to be a long wait. It’s understood that Subaru’s Gunma plant isn’t scheduled to run the all-new Outback until the third quarter of 2020 at the earliest.

Apart from the Outback’s demise, the entry-level Forester 2.0i-L is also gone. Though there are still some old stocks available, officially for MY2020, the Forester line-up gets the EyeSight driver assist system as standard equipment along with the Superview Around Recognition (SAR) 360-degree camera system. Meanwhile, for the Subaru XV, the base 2.0i is still offered with a traditional backup camera, but for P 20,000 more, it’ll also get the SAR 360 system.

Check out the latest prices below:

• BRZ 2.0 A/T – P 2,158,000
• Forester 2.0i-L EyeSight SAR 360 – P 1,888,000
• Forester 2.0i-S EyeSight SAR 360 – P 2,018,000
• Levorg 2.0 GT-S EyeSight – P 2,098,000
• WRX 2.0 EyeSight – P 2,158,000
• WRX STI 2.5 – P 2,848,000
• XV 2.0i – P 1,588,000
• XV 2.0i SAR 360 – P 1,608,000
• XV 2.0i-S EyeSight SAR 360 – P 1,858,000
• XV 2.0i-S EyeSight SAR 360 GT Edition – P 1,938,000

4 Reasons That Show Subaru Loves Dogs

From its background on the racetracks, and a strong following among enthusiasts, Subaru is now making a name for itself in one unlikely field: comfort. Indeed, modern Subarus don’t just offer commendable performance, but they tick off the requirements of every family looking for an attainable car upgrade.

One of the areas where Subaru is hard to beat is in their flexibility. Whether it’s the Forester, Outback, or the Subaru XV, each vehicle is generous space-wise, giving it the ability to transport a family of five and their cargo. Moreover, Subaru’s excellence goes beyond transporting family members of the two-legged variety—pets or “fur babies,” as they’re called nowadays are given equal importance as well.

Here are four reasons why a Subaru could be the best choice when it comes to transporting your beloved fur baby.

#1. Lots of Space

This fact cannot be stressed enough. With the Subaru XV, Outback, or Forester, you’re provided with enough seating in the back for three adults. This means that the width of the rear bench is wide enough for a medium or even large-sized dog to sit or even lie down comfortably.

#2. Designed for Pets

In relation to the space, the rear seats in a Subaru is great in accommodating all sorts of transport accessories. This includes a bench cover (to keep your leather safe from scratches and to catch any shedding hair), seat protectors, and baskets. Of course, it’s best to keep your dog strapped in with a safety harness, and Subaru’s actually done research on this matter.

In the US, Subaru gone so far to team up with the Center for Pet Safety in determining the safest and most ideal places for dogs to travel. In the upcoming three-row Evoltis (US-market Ascent), their extensive study has determined the following:

• Pets 20 lb. or less can be harnessed or secured in carriers in the 2nd row Captain’s Chair.
• Larger pets, more than 20 lb., should be properly secured and travel in the 3rd row bench directly behind one of the Captain’s Chairs.
• Never place your pet on the floor between the Captain’s Chairs in 3-row SUV models, as this could result in the pet becoming a projectile and cause serious injury to both the pet and vehicle passengers.
• When traveling with both children and pets in a 3-row vehicle with Captain’s Chairs, secure the child in the 2nd row and secure the pet in the 3rd row, on the opposite side of the vehicle as the child.

Aside from the seat, any Subaru SUV’s trunk has the capacity to accommodate a standard pet bed, basket, or carrier, with enough space leftover for luggage or accessories.

#3. The Right Height

Ideally, you want your pet to be able to get in and out of the vehicle on its own, especially if it’ll be riding with you inside the cabin. One of the factors that make Subaru easy for almost anyone is the seating height. It’s optimized in a way that makes it easy for humans to simply slide their legs in and out while still allowing even small dogs to safely step or jump in easily. Oh, and even the ground clearance is just right, making it easy for dogs to safely climb in or jump out.

#4. Unbeatable Comfort

Thanks to the award-winning Subaru Global Platform, Subarus now have great comfort and stability. Meant to give it an edge in flexibility, it can traverse uneven roads smoothly, adapting easily to any condition.

Of course, human comfort takes precedence, but surprisingly, this comfort extends to our four-legged friends. Take it from our 7-month old hyperactive beagle. Once he settles in the seat and the Forester begins to move, he is out like a light. And that is what you want, as opposed to being restless all the time.

Putting all of this together, it’s no surprise that Subaru’s taken pet comfort as part of their car’s development process. They’ve even collaborated with renowned animal behavior expert Cesar Millan, too. Whether it’s a sedan, crossover, or SUV, Subarus are safe and reliable choice when it comes to transporting anyone you love. It’s all part of “Heart”—a Subaru promise that they’re more than just a car company. They’re committed to foster a lasting, genuine relationship for every member of the family, including those of the four-legged variety.

Words and photos by Gen Tiu.

Subaru Still Has A Couple of Old Stock Left and the Discounts are Huge

New Year, new Subaru? Well, that’s the gist since distributor Motor Image Pilipinas is giving up to P 350,000 off selected models until the end of the month.

Somewhat a continuation of their promo last year, you can still snag 2018 (yes, that’s not a typo) models including the previous Forester XT (they still those?) for just P 1,698,000—that makes it cheaper than even the current top-the-line Forester and the new one doesn’t even have a freakin’ turbo!

At the rate Subaru’s discounting their cars, it’s not anymore a question of how low they can go, but how long they can go—discounting, we mean. Still, discounting these last remaining stocks is a good way to remove bad juju entering 2020. Remember, they did say they want to shed their discounting policy this year. Or maybe because they want to introduce the FUCKS too?

If the Forester’s not your thing, here are other Subaru models that are part of the promo:

• 2018 Forester XT – P 350,000 discount (net price: P 1,698,000)
• 2018 Subaru XV 2.0i – P 150,000 discount (net price: P 1,268,000) 
• 2018 Subaru XV 2.0i-S EyeSight – P 150,000 discount (net price: P 1,518,000)
• 2018 Subaru XV GT Edition (wasn’t this launched in 2019?) – P 120,000 discount (net price: P 1,648,000)
• 2018 Subaru Outback 3.6R-S EyeSight – P 350,000 discount (net price: 2,058,000)

The promo runs until January 31, 2020 and all models (including those not part of the promo) do have Subaru’s new 5-year / 100,000-kilometer bumper-to-bumper warranty.

Subaru Philippines is Now Offering Up to P 350k Discounts on Selected Models

Buying a brand-new Subaru? Well, you’re in for a surprise because distributor Motor Image Pilipinas is clearing their older 2018 inventory and to do that, they’re offering their biggest discount yet with up to P 350,000 off selected models until December 31, 2019.

Opting for cash transaction gets you the following discounts:

• 2018 Subaru Forester XT (previous model) – P 350,000 discount (net price: P 1,698,000)
• 2018 Subaru XV 2.0i – P 150,000 discount (net price: P 1,268,000)
• 2018 Subaru XV 2.0i-S EyeSight – P 150,000 discount (net price: 1,518,000)
• 2018 Subaru XV GT Edition – P 120,000 discount (net price: 1,648,000)
• 2018 Subaru Outback 3.6R-S EyeSight – P 350,000 discount (net price: P 2,058,000)
• 2018 Subaru BRZ 2.0 A/T – P 170,000 discount (net price: P 1,888,000)

This is actually quite historical for Subaru. Why? Because the turbocharged Forester, albeit the previous model, is now cheaper than the current normally-aspirated one; the Subaru XV 2.0i is cheaper than the Kia Seltos or Honda HR-V; and the Outback is cheaper than the all-new Accord.

Oh, if you opt for financing, the Forester XT is available with a zero, yup, zero percent downpayment, while the Subaru XV 2.0i can be yours with just a P 29,000 downpayment.

All Subaru models in this promo feature Motor Image Pilipinas’s new 5-year / 100,000-kilometer bumper-to-bumper warranty.

The Subaru XV is Now Just P 1.298M While Supplies Last

Motor Image Pilipinas, the exclusive distributor of Subaru vehicles in the Philippines is offering the last few 2018 model year (MY2018) units in their inventory at a substantial discount while supplies last.

The offer adds P 20,000 off on top of existing discounts on the Forester XT (previous model), Subaru XV, Outback, Subaru BRZ, Impreza, Levorg 1.6 GT-S, and Legacy 2.5i-S. With that, expect these to be the new net selling price when you walk into any authorized Subaru showroom:

• 2018 Subaru Forester XT – P 1,728,000
• 2018 Subaru XV 2.0i – P 1,298,000
• 2018 Subaru XV 2.0i-S EyeSight – P 1,548,000
• 2018 Subaru Outback 3.6R-S EyeSight – P 2,088,000
• 2018 Subaru BRZ 2.0 A/T – P 1,888,000
• 2018 Subaru Impreza – P 1,348,000
• 2018 Subaru Levorg 1.6 GT-S – P 1,568,000
• 2018 Subaru Legacy 2.5i-S – P 1,978,000

For those who want something newer (i.e. MY2019) models, Subaru is adding a new low downpayment scheme for the Subaru XV and Forester models. With that, drive home the Subaru XV for as low as P 99,000, while for the Forester, it’s at P 118,000 (2.0i-L) or P 149,000 (2.0i-L EyeSight). For cash customers, the 2019 Subaru XV is also available with an P 80,000 discount, while the Forester 2.0i-L has a P 90,000 discount.

BlackBerry to Power Future Subaru Connectivity, Infotainment System

Remember BlackBerry? The smartphones with a crisp physical keyboard so good users were called “CrackBerry” at one point? The brand may have all but disappeared in the smartphone space, but they’re finding new life in Subarus.

Denso Corporation and BlackBerry announced that the first integrated digital cockpit system powered by BlackBerry QNX will be used by Subaru. The technology dubbed, “Harmony Core” will be available first in the United States from the end of this year in the all-new Legacy and Outback.

Co-developed by BlackBerry and Denso, in collaboration with Subaru, this leading-edge digital cockpit solution uses BlackBerry QNX Hypervisor (virtualization) technology to enable integrated control of in-vehicle (Human Machine Interface) or HMI systems.

This approach is unique is that typically vehicles are equipped with device-specific operating systems made to work in unison. Because of this, it was not possible to coordinate them to display content and sound in a uniform way. With the BlackBerry QNX Hypervisor technology, it enables the independence of several operating systems with different characteristics and controls the integration with one microcomputer.

Subaru is the first vehicle manufacturer in the world to commercially deploy the jointly developed digital cockpit platform. Moving forward, more automobile manufacturers around the world will sequentially launch new car models with the integrated HMI.